LAP Projects
Trap, Neuter
and Return (TNR)
Many colonies of feral cats have
formed on Lamma around food sources such as refuse collection
points and restaurants. In addition some are fed by kind individuals.
The lives of these cats are hard
and short, filled with fear, hunger and disease. Life expectancy
is no more than three years. It is particularly hard for a
female as
she spends most of her life pregnant or nursing. Illnesses,
parasites, injuries and human malice claim the lives
of most of her kittens but those that survive continue the
circle.
Not only do these cats suffer
but they act as a reservoir for disease and the sight of sick
and dying animals is distressing. Catching and killing or poisoning
feral animals is costly but ineffective as those killed are
quickly replaced - quite apart from the suffering inflicted
on the animals.
Eradication programmes have a very poor record
of success worldwide.
A particular problem on Lamma
is created by people who leave the island and abandon their
companion animals, supposing that they can survive in the wild.
In fact, domestic cats and dogs generally cannot fend for themselves,
live in confusion and die slowly from malnutrition and disease.
Meanwhile they may well breed if they are not neutered. In
addition domestic animals from other areas are often brought
to outlying islands and dumped there by owners who no longer
want them or are not permitted to keep them in their apartments.
The LAP TNR Programme
With the generous veterinarian
support of Dr. Hans De Vries and HKSPCA and in cooperation
with AFCD, a programme of “Trap/Neuter/Release” (TNR)
has been set up to address the problem in a humane and cost-effective
way. The goal is to achieve a stable population of healthy
non-breeding animals.
Targeting one colony at a time,
the cats are fed and watered daily, then trapped individually,
treated, vaccinated, sterilised and either released back into
the colony or fostered and homed whenever this is feasible.
The first targeted colony was estimated to have been producing
around 50 kittens per season, beyond a sustainable level.
These died of disease and hunger, often lost or were abandoned by people around
refuse collection points. Some of these may have been imported into the area
by people who then would not take responsibility for them or whose domestic
cats had given birth to unwanted kittens. Since the programme was initiated
this has been reduced to four a year. The improvement in the general health
of the colony is plain to see. Similar results have been achieved with other
colonies. LAP continues to provide food and water after release.
To avoid repetition, treated
cats have one ear clipped while anaesthetised. This heals rapidly
and, as the hair grown back, in not visible/noticeable except
at close range.
The TNR treatment clearly does
not traumatise the cats. On the contrary, one of the main difficulties
in achieving 100% treatment of fertile cats in a colony is
that graduates of the programme return confidently to the traps
for a safe meal.
We operate on cats from 2 months
and older as it is better to do it before sexual maturity.
We advocate EARLY
AGE SPAY AND NEUTER.
Adoption
While TNR is a compassionate and pragmatic solution to the feral cat overpopulation
problem, the unacceptable conditions in which a feral cat must survive
bear no comparison with adoption by a loving home. LAP makes every effort
to find homes for friendly cats and to foster kittens until this can be
arranged.
Where a cat has been injured
or maimed it is not returned to the colony in that condition
The sick and injured:
The very first cat trapped by LAP had been horribly abused. She had 3rd degree
burns to 40% of her skin.
We worked to save her and now
she is a gorgeous and happily homed cat. Sadly, every decision
on whether to attempt to save the life of an animal is a compromise
between her chances of survival and money available. LAP will
continue to give every animal a chance as far as our resources
allow.
